Othello Sandhill Crane Festival by Randy Hill and Bob Flores · WOSNews 91: June / July 2004 1...

WOSNews 91: June / July 2004 1

WASHINGTON ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY June / July 2004

The Othello Sandhill Crane Festival completed its seventh successful event in March. Attendance has climbed steadily from the first festival in 1998 that drew more than 400 participants. In addition to guided crane viewing tours, the educational opportunities for both children and adults have increased each year with a variety of crafts and seminars throughout the day. Specialized birding tours have been offered each of the last six years, and the festival has expanded from a single day to three days as a result.

Besides 5-15,000 sandhill cranes in the area in late March, the Othello area boasts an interesting mix of migrants in addition to resident and wintering birds. It is probably the best location in Washington to get close-up views of tricolored blackbirds, and there is one of the largest inland rookeries of great egrets in the state on Potholes Reservoir. In addition, there is a breeding population of around 700 pair of double-crested cormorants plus varying numbers of great blue herons and black-crowned night-herons

The area also includes a variety of wetlands in an otherwise dry environment that provides for a rich diversity of habitats. In addition to more than 100 species seen on field trips to areas listed below, boat trips on Potholes Reservoir and a trip to sage grouse (which were seen) country in Douglas County completed an offering of creek, river, reservoir, lake, marsh, grassland, shrub, cliff, cropland, and urban environments found in the Columbia Basin.

The checklist below includes only those bird species found during the field trips, where time constraints of 3-7 hours from the starting point were a factor. Species such as burrowing owl were featured during field trips to areas just east of Othello on 3/27, but were included only as a side trip upon return to town on 3/28. As always happens, species such as American avocet and Ross’s goose were found immediately after the festival. With the exception of a few areas of Saddle Mountain NWR on the Wahluke Slope field trip and selected private property on the Columbia NWR field trip, all areas are open to the public and described in the Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway Birding Trail map/brochure and/or the updated ABA publication A Birder’s Guide to Washington. The focus of this year’s field trips or route selection changed slightly to visit or identify birding sites designated in these publications. With the recognition of birding opportunities through the festival

and the publication last year of both of these guides we have seen an increase in self-guided birding in the Othello area from early-March to mid-April, as well as spring and fall migrant periods in May, August, and September. This has been a great boost to those businesses that benefit from tourism and has expanded awareness and opportunities within a farming community that traditionally looked at only hunting and fishing as revenue sources.

See pages 6-7 for a chart of the birds seen at the Crane Festival .

WOSNews 91 Othello Sandhill Crane Festival

by Randy Hill and Bob Flores

Photo by Bob Flores

Photo by Sunny Walter


WOS Membership Meetings

Sunday, June 20th

Russ Koppendrayer, a resident of Cowlitz County, will lead a field trip starting in the lowlands of Cowlitz County and ending in the mountains near Blue Lake and Red Rock Pass. The focus of the day will be on the common breeding birds of Cowlitz County and will be an introduction to lesser known areas to bird there. California quail, common nighthawk, hermit warbler, and white-breasted nuthatch are possible. Limited to 8 participants. To sign up or for further information, contact Russ evenings at (360) 636-3245.

Saturday, June 26th

Kraig Kemper will lead a trip to the Middle and Upper Skagit Valley. The trip will start at the Butler Flats and head east to the Skagit/Whatcom County Line Ponds. Time and weather permitting, Rainy Pass and Washington Pass are possible destinations. Target birds include lazuli bunting, western and eastern kingbird, American redstart, red-eyed vireo, black swift, veery, Hammond’s flycatcher, Three-toed woodpecker and pine grosbeak. Limited to 8 participants. Contact Kraig at (206) 789-9255 or [email protected].

Saturday, July 10th

Steve Mlodinow will lead an all day trip to Whidbey Island. Emphasis will be on shorebirds. All participants should bring a scope, waterproof boots and a lunch. Previous trips have found yellow-billed loon (two years!) and Hudsonian godwit. semipalmated sandpiper is possible. Limited to 6 participants. To sign up or for further information, contact Steve at (425) 514-5874 or [email protected].

Saturday, August 7th

Brian Bell will lead a trip in Island County to Whidbey Island. The focus for the day will be fall migration of shorebirds with stops at Crockett Lake, Swantown, and Penn Cove. Target birds will include plovers, peeps, yellowlegs, and dowitchers. Time will also be spent looking for waterbirds and passerines. All participants should bring a scope, waterproof boots, and a lunch. Limited to 8 participants. Contact Brian at (425) 485-8058 or [email protected].

Note: To find out about WOS field trips, you may contact Kraig Kemper and Ken Knittle at [email protected].

WOS Field Trips

The Society The Washington Ornithological Society was chartered in 1988 to increase knowledge of the birds of Washington and to enhance communication among all persons interested in those birds. WOS is a nonprofit educational organization under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. For information about the Society, contact an officer or board member, or write to:

Washington Ornithological Society

P.O. Box 31783 Seattle, WA 98103-1783

PRESIDENT

Brian Bell 16440 NE 160th St., Woodinville 98072 425-485-8058 [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT

Vacant SECRETARY

Carol Schulz 21421 15th Ave S, DesMoines 98198 206-824-7618 [email protected]

TREASURER

Rachel Lawson 411 W. Prospect St, Seattle 98119 206-282-5593 [email protected]

BOARD MEMBERS

Denny Granstrand 2011 S 47th Ave, Yakima, WA 98903 509-453-2500 [email protected]

Diane Weber SE 230 South St., Pullman, WA 99163 509-334-3817 [email protected]

Bart Whelton W. 1112-17th Ave., Spokane, WA 99203 747-0161(H), (509) 359-6519 (W) [email protected]

Bob Flores 806 East Spruce St. Othello, WA 99344 509-331-0388 [email protected] Joe Buchanan 2112 Ravenna Ln SE, Olympia 98501 360-786-1792 [email protected]

June 7th – Members Slide Night

This is the last meeting of the year so find those special slides – of a trip or of a bird - and come and share them with others.

Note: Meetings are held the first Monday of each month (except July, August, and September) at the Center for Urban Horticulture on the University of Washington campus, 3501 N.E. 41st Street, Seattle, and are open to all. The social begins at 7:00 pm, and the program starts at 7:30 pm.

The Washington Ornithological Society will be holding its annual election of Officers and Board of Directors later this summer. Ballots will be included in the August/September issue of WOSNews. The Board is pleased to present the following nominations for open Officer and Board positions.

Officers: President: Brian Bell Vice President: Randy Hill Secretary: Carol Schulz Treasurer: Joyce Meyer

Board of Directors: Pos. 1 (two years): Denny Granstrand Pos. 5 (two years): Rachel Lawson

Nominations for any of the open positions will be willingly received until July.

Send such nominations to Kraig Kemper, 137 North 76th, Seattle, WA 98103, [email protected].

Kraig Kemper Chair, Nominations

WOS Elections


Be Informed WOSNews is published bimonthly by the Washington Ornithological Society to inform members about Society business, bird sightings, ornithological research, and the fun of birding. Readers are welcome to submit art ic les, announcements, illustrations, photographs, and other items for consideration. Contributor guidelines are available.

Editor Diann MacRae 22622 53rd Ave SE Bothell, WA 98021 [email protected]

Production Michael Hobbs [email protected]

Distribution Steve Dang [email protected]

Raven illustrations by Linda Feltner © 1989. Printed by Impression Printing, Seattle.

Manuscripts for WASHINGTON BIRDS should be sent to either of the journal editors:

Michael Donahue 1733 13th Ave. S, Seattle 98144 [email protected]

Joe Buchanan 2112 Ravenna Ln SE, Olympia 98501 [email protected]

Visit the Society’s web site at http://www.wos.org

Subscribe to the Tweeters email bird discussion list by emailing [email protected]

with a message text of sub tweeters your name

Membership News

Just a little reminder from your membership chair: if you have any changes to your address or email please pass them on to me via email or in writing. Send corrections to [email protected] or to PO Box 31783 Seattle WA 98103-1783.

We are striving to improve our member support which will include publishing the directory on a regular basis. In 2002 we initiated a “Welcome to WOS” letter for new members that includes a complementary checklist and information about membership meetings. We appreciate your feedback. Send us your comments and especially any suggestions you might have to improve WOS.

Susan Fallat, Membership chair

Vulture’s Roost by Diann MacRae

You that read this column have heard this before: the newsletter is for the members and by the members. Without input of your articles about great birding trips you’ve taken, rare and not-so-rare species you’ve encountered, a great birding book you’re reading (doesn’t have to be a new one; maybe a classic), equipment you’ve tried that makes your trip better, or anything else along the birding line, the newsletter isn’t very representative of its membership.

We’ve tried to inject new columns, but without feedback there’s no way to tell if anyone gives the proverbial hoot.

So . . . this is just a reminder. Send us photos, long or short articles, or even messages about what you like or don’t like. WOSNews is your newsletter!

FROM THE BOARD by Brian H. Bell

I hope everyone has had a chance to look over the materials for the 16th Annual Meeting on June 4-6 in the Pullman/Moscow area and has made their choices for field trips. We will have a report on the conference in the next issue of WOSNews, and am sure that we will have great things to report. Watch for news about the next conference, to be held at a location in Western Washington, in a future issue. Suggestions are welcome.

I hope that you are all pleased with the new membership directory – this can be a great resource for contacting members for information about their area, or perhaps for company when birding around the state.

The elections for the next Board and Officers will be this summer, and we have an excellent line-up of people. Additional nominations will be enthusiastically received. See story elsewhere in this issue, watch for your ballot in August, and please vote.

Those who have been at the recent monthly meetings know that Vivian Gross has agreed to act as Hospitality Chair. She will be ably assisted by Joyce Meyer. We can use a couple of extra people to help out from time to time to spread the efforts. We will continue to have a sign-up sheet at the meetings for people willing to bring refreshments to a particular meeting.

As always, we have some excellent field trips coming up in the next couple of months. Thanks to Kraig Kemper and Ken Knittle for their outstanding efforts in finding places and leaders to show us the great birds in our state.

Many of you know that efforts were being made to preserve Reardon’s Audubon Lake, and that WOS joined many other birding and Audubon organizations around the state. We received the news that the $50,000 goal was reached (thanks to more than 130 donors) and that the option to purchase the property has been extended, with the agreement being signed on March 26th. The purchase price is $350,000 and the Inland Northwest Land Trust will be looking for further donations, grants, and foundation gifts to preserve this great area.

Mike McKinstry did a fantastic job in arranging for great speakers this year, and is lining up some great programs for the coming year.


Pacific Northwest Site Guides

Sammamish River Trail by Erin and Bill Woods

Being ardent touring bicyclists and serious birders, we regularly combine our two favorite pastimes, and living near Redmond gives us quick access to the Sammamish River Trail, one of many paved recreational trails in the Seattle area. Beginning at Marymoor Park in King County, the trail provides bicycle birders immediate visual and auditory challenges. American robins are there in all seasons: singing, eating, and nesting. Even a partial albino robin has been spotted on occasion. The trail initially follows the west bank of the river, but crosses to the east side as it makes its way through Redmond. At the “mitigated wetlands” along the power-line trail just east of Redmond is a small marsh and pond, a great place to see and hear marsh wrens up close and personal; such lively fellows they are. This is a favorite place for green-winged teal and red-winged blackbirds, which sing from the cattails, while high above on the hill in the big Douglas-fir trees, red-tailed hawks have nested for several years. Blackened trees, still visible from the trail, are victims of a late summer 2003 fire—let us hope the redtails are not deterred by this.

The list of waterfowl is long and especially exciting in winter when many of the diving ducks—bufflehead, common goldeneye, hooded merganser, common merganser, and scaup show off their diving skills as bicyclists pedal by. A pair of ring-necked ducks provided us a “first sighting” on the Sammamish River this past winter. Great blue herons are frequently visible along the trail, either flying along the river or standing along the banks watching for prey. Double-crested cormorants are quite common, and stake out favorite “large woody debris” on which to perch and dry their wings. Even an occasional bald eagle soars on the midday thermals. Song sparrows say hello with their cheery songs all year round, and Bewick’s and marsh wrens add their tunes in springtime. Wintertime along the Sammamish River Trail is a perfect place for observing flocks of golden-crowned sparrows in the crabapple trees and dense blackberry brambles.

American wigeon flocks, their distinctive voices heard from a distance along the trail, enjoy grazing the groomed lawns of the golf course and sod farm west of the river during their winter visits, but a spotting scope may be necessary to pick out a Eurasian wigeon among them. (We have found that the scope will fit in a pannier, and the tripod may be strapped down to a rear bicycle rack. The set-up takes only a minute or two.) Gadwalls, on the other hand, do not seem to be inclined to gather in big flocks and are content to float silently on the Sammamish River in mated pairs, allowing very close observation from the

trail. Pied-billed grebes dive at the least provocation, staying up only long enough to get a gulp of air, making it difficult to study their very subtle plumage and interesting bill during the breeding season. American coots pay bicyclists no attention as they work the edges of the river. The Sammamish River Trail divides the groomed lawns of Wilmot Park in Woodinville, where we have seen large gatherings of ring- billed gulls, completely oblivious of the people and activities going on around them. Belted kingfishers are seen or heard regularly along the trail, and killdeers enjoy flying over, calling loudly, and landing on the sod farms across the river. Barn swallows and violet-green swallows enjoy the trail area in summertime, and tree swallows now are using the bird houses along the Sammamish River in Marymoor Park.

As the Sammamish River Trail joins the Burke-Gilman Trail west of Bothell, it is worthwhile to continue to Tracy Owens Station in Kenmore where beach access provides views of Lake Washington. Here again, a spotting scope is useful to identify the many flocks of ducks, western and horned grebes, coots, and geese that are visible near the mouth of the Sammamish River.

Retracing the trail back to Marymoor gives bicyclists a good 26-mile workout, albeit for bicycle-birders, frequently interrupted by bird sightings. A short side trip on the trail along North Creek to the University of Washington Bothell Campus brings rewards of cliff swallows, which have found one of the university buildings to be a perfect location for their colonial nesting. A viewing platform overlooking North Creek is a good place to see spotted sandpipers, although one must be careful of the goose “signs” along the trail.

We have bicycled the Sammamish River Trail for many years, and have observed a few changes in the birding populations, a result of habitat changes. Tall grasses and pastures have given way to sod farms, playfields, golf courses and nurseries—great additions to the landscape, but not for the meadowlarks and short-eared owls that are there no more. Although other sparrows are plentiful, white-crowned sparrows are now seldom seen. On the other hand, exciting, interesting, new sightings are always possible along the trail. We have seen and heard western tanagers and a northern harrier in recent years.

In our exuberance to view the birds along the trail, we must remember to get off to the side, and not impede the pedestrians, runners, roller bladers and other bicyclists; this trail is very popular and sometimes very busy on a sunny day.

The Sammamish River Trail is accessed easily at many points along its route. Trailheads and parking areas are located at King County Marymoor Park in Redmond (parking fee $1.00), Wilmot Park in Woodinville, Bothell Landing Park, and Tracy Owens Station in Kenmore.


CLASSES FOR SUMMER 2004

Songbirds of the Olympics June 4-6; Olympic Park Institute, Port Angeles, WA

Explore lake shore, forest, stream, and mountaintop of the Olympic Peninsula during the peak of breeding season in search of migratory and resident songbirds. Learn how to recognize species by their sounds as well as how each bird behaves and survives within its specific habitat. Evening and impromptu daytime talks cover bird lore and ecology. We’ll also explore how personal action can keep songbirds alive and well.

The Fabled Cape: Life and Legends of Cape Flattery June 4-5; Olympic Park Institute, Port Angeles, WA

Join author and naturalist Bob Steelquist from the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary for a boat trip to rugged Cape Flattery, the northwestern-most point of the lower 48 states. Teeming with marine and bird life, waters around Tatoosh Island and the Cape offer opportunities to see tufted puffins, northern fulmars, sooty shearwaters, rhinoceros auklets, and common murres in their prime habitat. We may also see gray whales, sea otters, harbor porpoises, or Steller's sea lions. Participants will learn about marine ecology, Makah Indian culture, and get a rare glimpse of this isolated corner of the world.

O l y m p i c P a r k I n s t i t u t e is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational adventures in nature’s classroom. Our courses aim to inspire a personal connection to the natural world and responsible actions to sustain it. We’re located on the shore of Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park in Washington State.

For more information or to request a full catalog of courses, call 1-800-775-3720 or visit www.OlympicParkInstitute.com

Great Egrets at Turnbull NWR, Spokane, September 1, 2003. Photos by Tom Munson.


OTHELLO CRANE FESTIVAL FIELD TRIP BIRD LISTS 2004

SPECIES

Crab Creek Leaders Mike & MerryLynn Denny 3/26&28/04

Columbia NWR Tour Leaders Hill, Flores, Newsome 03/26/04

Columbia NWR Tour Leader R Hill 03/28/04

Wahluke Slope Tour Leaders H. Newsome & S. Bouffard 3/28/04

Potholes Res. Area Leaders T. Pieper & H. Ferguson 3/28/04

Lower Grand Coulee Tour Leaders R. Flores & J. Moody 3/28/04

Common Loon x x x x Pied-billed Grebe x x x x x x Horned Grebe x x Eared Grebe x Western Grebe x American White Pelican x Double-crested Cormorant x x x x Ruddy Duck x x x Tundra Swan x x Canada Goose x x x x x Eurasian Wigeon x x x American Wigeon x x x x x Green-winged Teal x x x Gadwall x x x Mallard x x x x x Northern Pintail x x x x x Cinnamon Teal x x x x x Northern Shoveler x x x x x Canvasback x x x Redhead x x x x Ring-necked Duck x x x x Lesser Scaup x x x x Greater Scaup x Common Goldeneye x x x Barrow's Goldeneye x Bufflehead x x x x x Hooded Merganser x x Common Merganser x x x x x Great Blue Heron x x x x x Great Egret x Black-crowned Night-heron x Northern Harrier x x x x x Sharp-shinned Hawk x Cooper's Hawk x Accipiter sp. x American Bald Eagle x x Red-tailed Hawk x x x x x Golden Eagle x American Kestrel x x x x x Prairie Falcon x x x Virginia Rail x American Coot x x x x Chukar x x Ring-necked Pheasant x x x x California Quail x x x x x Sandhill Crane x x x Wilson's Snipe x x x x Long-billed Curlew x x x x Greater Yellowlegs x x x Dunlin x x x Black-necked Stilt x x x x Killdeer x x x x x x Ring-billed Gull x x x x x California Gull x x x


TOTAL NUMBER of Species seen: 107

SPECIES

Crab Creek Leaders Mike & MerryLynn Denny 3/26&28/04

Columbia NWR Tour Leaders Hill, Flores, Newsome 03/26/04

Columbia NWR Tour Leader R Hill 03/28/04

Wahluke Slope Tour Leaders H. Newsome & S. Bouffard 3/28/04

Potholes Res. Area Leaders T. Pieper & H. Ferguson 3/28/04

Lower Grand Coulee Tour Leaders R. Flores & J. Moody

American Herring Gull x x Rock Pigeon x x x x x Mourning Dove x x x x x Great Horned Owl x x Long-eared Owl x Short-eared Owl x Burrowing Owl x x White-throated Swift x x Belted Kingfisher x x x Northern Flicker x x x x x Downy Woodpecker x x Hairy Woodpecker x Say's Phoebe x x x Loggerhead Shrike x x x Horned Lark x x x Black-billed Magpie x x x x x x American Crow x x x x Common Raven x x x x x x Cedar Waxwing x x Varied Thrush x x American Robin x x x x x x Tree Swallow x x x N. Rough-winged Swallow x x Cliff Swallow x x x x Violet-green Swallow x x x x x x Barn Swallow x Say's Phoebe x x Bewick's Wren x x Canyon Wren x x Rock Wren x x x Marsh Wren x x Ruby-crowned Kinglet x x x x x Golden-crowned Kinglet x x Sage Thrasher x American Pipit x European Starling x x x x x Yellow-rumped Warbler x x House Sparrow x x x x x x American Goldfinch x x House Finch x x x x x Song Sparrow x x x x x x Lincoln's Sparrow x Sage Sparrow x x Savannah Sparrow x Vesper Sparrow x White-crowned Sparrow x x x x x x Dark-eyed Junco x x x Spotted Towhee x x Yellow-headed Blackbird x x x x Red-winged Blackbird x x x x x x Tricolored Blackbird x x Western Meadowlark x x x x x x Brewer's Blackbird x x x x x Brown-headed Cowbird x x x


Washington Field Notes August-September 2003 Compiled by Tom Aversa “Washington Field Notes” are distilled from reports sent to Tom Aversa, 305 NW 75 th S t . S ea t t l e WA. 98117 ([email protected]), Steve Mlodinow ([email protected]), and to a lesser extent from birding hotlines and listserves. For corrections or information contact the compiler at [email protected].

Washington Field Notes August -September 2003

Greater White-fronted Goose Early reports included 46 at Sequim Bay Clallam on 8/30 (EKr), 6 near Stanwood Snohomish on 9/3 with 24 there on 9/4 (JW), 4 at Jensen Access Skagit on 9/4 (GT), 1 at Lyons Ferry SP Franklin on 9/9 (TAv), 16 at Dodson Road Grant on 9/14 (DSc), and 7 at Kent King on 9/10 (MaB). Snow Goose Early report: 1 near Stanwood Snohomish on 9/18 with 101 there on 9/23 (JW). Brant Early reports included 1 at Padilla Bay Skagit on 8/1 (WW), and 25 flying by Jamestown Clallam on 9/12 (fide BN). “Cackling” Canada Goose Early report: 25 at Ridgefield NWR Clark on 9/25 (EA). Northern Pintail High count: 3000 at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 9/3 (TAv). Eurasian Wigeon Early report: 1 at Willapa Bay Pacific on 9/18 (CWr). Redhead Uncommon in w WA. 2 at Ridgefield NWR Clark on 8/13 (TAv), 2 at Montlake Fill King on 9/10 (SMa), and 1 at Kent King on 9/28 (PS,RS). Lesser Scaup Uncommon breeder in w WA. 2 females with broods at Deer Lagoon Island on 8/9, and 3 females with broods near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/9 (SM) Harlequin Duck Locally uncommon. 10 west of Elbe Pierce on 8/3 (PS,RS). Black Scoter Early report: 6 at Point Roberts Whatcom on 9/24 (WW). Surf Scoter Locally uncommon. 1 at Wenas Lake Yakima on 9/21 and 9/28 (KT,AS), and 3 males at Mowich Lake Pierce on 9/22 (KaT). White-winged Scoter Rare in early fall in e WA. 5 at Banks Lake Grant on 9/27 (MaB,MHo).

Common Goldeneye Reports of lingering summer birds included 1 at Potholes Grant on 8/10 (DGr), 1 at Sheep Lake Whitman on 8/23 (PS,RS), 1 at Sprague Lake Lincoln on 9/9 (TAv), and 1 at Columbia NWR Grant on 9/10 (RH). Common Merganser High counts included 390 at Jensen Access Skagit on 8/16 (SM), 250 at Luhr Beach Thurston on 8/20 (JPa), and 300 at Dungeness Clallam on 8/26 (RR). Ruddy Duck High count. 3000 at Lake Lenore Grant on 8/29 (SM). Spruce Grouse Reports included 12 on Forest Roads 37 and 39 Okanogan on 8/23 (BSu), and 1 at the North Fork of Ahtanum Creek Yakima on 8/31 (RH,KK). White-tailed Ptarmigan Reports included

4 near Paradise at Mount Rainier NP Pierce on 9/4 (BBe) with 3 there on 9/28 (MR). Ruffed Grouse Locally rare. 1 at Wind Dust Park Franklin on 9/15 (CWr). Sharp-tailed Grouse Rare and local. 1 reported at Creston Lincoln on 9/28 (MaB,MHo). Northern Bobwhite Uncommon and local. 7 near Orting Pierce on 8/22 (IH). Mountain Quail Uncommon and local in WA. 2 females with broods at Tahuya State Forest Mason on 8/2 (GuM), 4 near Maggie Lake Mason on 8/10 (GW), 6 near Belfair Mason on 8/12 (MHr), 3 near Wood Lake Mason on 8/18 (MaM), and 3 north of Elma Grays Harbor on 9/24 (TO). Common Loon Reports from e WA included a pair with a juvenile at Ferry Lake

Ferry on 8/14 (KGl), and 2 at Wanapum Dam Kittitas/Grant on 8/23 (BLa,NLa). Red-necked Grebe High count: 100 at Point Roberts Whatcom on 9/24 (WW). Clark’s Grebe Late reports from e WA included 1 at Lind Coulee Grant on 8/23 (BLa,NLa), 1 at Potholes Grant on 8/27 (fide BLa), 2 at East Wenatchee Douglas on 9/13 (DS) and on 9/15 (DBe), and 1 at Soap Lake Grant on 9/27 (MaB,MHo). Black-footed Albatross Reports included 596 on the Westport Pelagic Grays Harbor on 8/9 (BL), and 25 off La Push Clallam on 9/13 (BoB). Laysan Albatross Rare in WA. 1 on the Westport Pelagic Grays Harbor on 8/9 (BL) was the only report this year. Northern Fulmar Reports included 1 at

Sekiu Clallam on 9/13 (BoB), 13 found dead on Grayland Beach Grays Harbor on 9/23 (MD,MLD), and 1231 on the Westport Pelagic Grays Harbor on 9/27 (BT). Pink-footed Shearwater Rarely reported from land. 21 reported at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 8/10 (CWr), 1 at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/13 (KK), and 2 at Long Beach Pacific on 8/17 (MD,MLD). High count: 1521 on the Westport Pelagic Grays Harbor on 8/23 (BL). Sooty Shearwater High counts included 90,000 at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 8/10 (CWr), 23,220 on the Westport Pelagic Grays Harbor on 8/16 (BL), and 250,000 reported at Klipsan

Beach Pacific on 8/17 (MD,MLD). MANX SHEARWATER Rare in WA. 1 at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/1 (MDo) with 1 reported there on 8/10 and 8/26 (PS,RS), and 2 at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 8/10 (CWr). Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Reports included a high count of 1261 on the Westport Pelagic Grays Harbor on 8/23 (BL), and 5 off La Push Clallam on 9/13 (BoB). American White Pelican High counts included 300 at Badger Island Walla Walla on 8/9 (MD,MLD), 300 at Potholes Grant on 8/10 (DGr), and 250 at Moses Lake Grant on 9/14 (DSc). Brown Pelican High counts included 1000 off La Push Clallam on 9/13 (BoB),

Juvenile Greater White-fronted Goose, Marymoor Park, Redmond, King, September 25, 2003. Photo by Grace and Ollie Oliver.


Washington Field Notes August-September 2003 and 1500 reported at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 9/18 (CWr). American Bittern High count: 16 at Ridgefield NWR Clark on 9/28 (CRi). Great Egret Widespread reports away from e WA breeding areas included 1 at Rock Island Douglas on 8/9, 7 at St Andrews Douglas on 8/14 (DBe), 1 at Neah Bay Clallam from 8/13 (fide BN) to at least 9/28 (ENe), 36 at Ridgefield NWR Clark on 8/13 (TAv) with 144 there on 9/25 (ShH), up to 5 at Confluence SP Chelan from 8/18 to 9/30 (DBe), 1 at Mill Creek Walla Walla on 8/23 (MD,MLD), 1 near Lowell Snohomish on 8/24 (JDw), 2 at Monroe Snohomish on 8/28 (SP), 5 at Bay City Grays Harbor on 8/30 (PS,RS), 2 at Turnbull NWR Spokane on 8/30 (RD), 1 at Toppenish NWR Yakima on 8/31 (KT), 15 at Yakima RD Benton on 9/3 (BLa,NLa), 1 at Crow Butte SP Benton on 9/6 (KK), 1 at Kent King from 9/9 (LiA) to 9/30 (CWr), 1 near Heron Pond Spokane on 9/10 (GiS), 10 at Wenas Lake Yakima on 9/11 (DGr), 11 at Vantage Kittitas on 9/13 (SDo), 1 near Lyman Skagit from 9/13 to 9/30 (GB), 1 at Ilwaco Pacific on 9/14 (SSh), 1 near Alderdale Klickitat on 9/20 (SJ), 1 at Thorp Kittitas on 9/22 (MiH), 2 at Kettle Falls Stevens on 9/23 (WCu), 5 near Stanwood Snohomish on 9/24 (JW), 1 at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 9/25 (PS,RS), and 7 at Walla Walla RD Walla Walla on 9/27 (MD,MLD). Green Heron Rare in e WA. 1 at Bingen Klickitat on 8/19 with 2 on 8/28 and 1 there on 9/24 (SJ), and 1 reported at Paterson Slough Benton on 8/28 (CdM). B l a c k - c r o w n e d N i g h t - H e r o n Uncommon in w WA. 2 at Ridgefield NWR Clark on 8/13 (TAv) with 5 on 8/22 (KK,HA) and 3 there on 9/19 (EA). Turkey Vulture Reports included 46 near Lyle Klickitat on 8/21 (SJ), 2 at Sprague Lake Lincoln on 9/9 (TAv), 1 at Prosser Benton on 9/16 (fide BLa), 12 near Yakima RD Benton on 9/19 (fide BLa), and 353 migrating by Salt Creek CP Clallam on 9/21 with 410 on 9/26 and 174 counted there on 9/30 (DMa). White-tailed Kite Local and uncommon. 5 at Julia Butler Hansen NWR Wahkiakum

on 8/15 (MD,MLD) and on 9/27 (RKo), 1 at Willow Grove Cowlitz on 8/17 (KK), 1 at Chinook Valley Pacific on 8/23 (MPa), 1 at Raymond Pacific on 9/21 (PS,RS), and 1 at Ridgefield NWR Clark on 9/30 (JE). Northern Harrier High altitude migrants included 1 near Paradise at Mount Rainier NP Pierce on 9/4 (BBe), and 3 at Hidden Lake Trail Skagit on 9/28 (GB). RED-SHOULDERED HAWK Rare in WA. 1 juvenile at Ridgefield NWR Clark from 8/13 (TAv) to at least 8/24 (RoC), 2 reported at Conboy Lake NWR Klickitat on 9/4 (JE), 1 juvenile at Nisqually NWR Thurston on 9/14 (ENe), and 1 at Julia Butler Hansen NWR Wahkiakum on 9/21 (DR). BROAD-WINGED HAWK Rare in WA.

3 reported at Chelan Ridge Chelan between 9/13 and 9/26 (fide DHr), and 1 reported at Norse Peak Pierce/Yakima on 9/21 (AS). Swainson’s Hawk Late reports included 1 at Lind Coulee Grant on 9/20 (DSc), and 13 at Chelan Ridge Chelan on 9/23 (fide DHr). Rough-legged Hawk Early for WA. 1 reported at Chelan Ridge Chelan on 9/9 (fide DHr). Golden Eagle Uncommon in w WA. 1 at Heather Creek in Olympic NP Jefferson on 8/23 (fide BN), 1 adult at Obstruction Point Road Clallam on 9/17 (TAv), and 1 immature at Hidden Lake Trail Skagit on 9/28 (GB). American Kestrel Migrant reports included 60 at Conboy Lake NWR Klickitat

on 9/5 (JE), 2 at Montlake Fill King on 8/21 (TAv), and 1 at Magnuson Park King on 9/17 (fide TAv). Merlin Reports from e WA included 1 at East Wenatchee Douglas on 8/18 (DBe), 1 at Reardan Lincoln on 8/23 (GiS), 1 at Potholes Grant on 8/27 (fide BLa), 1 at Sprague Lake Adams on 9/1 (SM), 1 at Conboy Lake NWR Klickitat on 9/5 (JE), and 1 at Bingen Klickitat on 9/18 (SJ). Peregrine Falcon Reports from e WA included 1 at Othello Adams from 8/1 to 9/30 (RH), 1 at Palouse Falls SP Franklin on 8/16 (BS), 1 immature at East Wenatchee Douglas on 8/18 (DBe), 1 at Sprague Lake Adams/Lincoln on 8/27 (DGr), 1 adult at Two Rivers CP Benton on 9/6 (DR), 1 at Yakima RD Benton on 9/7

(BLa,NLa) and on 9/10 (BW), and 1 juvenile at Iowa Beef Walla Walla on 9/11 (TAv). Prairie Falcon High altitude migrants included 1 at Upper Morse Creek Yakima on 8/31 (AS,ElS), and 3 reported near Paradise at Mount Rainier NP Pierce on 9/13 (CWr). Sandhill Crane Reports included 49 adults with 4 fledged colts at Conboy Lake NWR Klickitat in August (fide JE), 2 at Crooked Knee Lake Whitman on 9/1 (SM), 20 at Ridgefield NWR Clark on 9/8 (EA) with 100 there on 9/28 (CRi), 1 near Stanwood Snohomish on 9/13 (SM), 3000 at Duley Lake Okanogan on 9/19 (MSp), 3 at Julia Butler Hansen NWR

Wahkiakum on 9/27 (RKo), and 1 at Morse Creek Bluff Clallam on 9/29 (JMu). Black-bellied Plover Uncommon in e WA. 7 at St Andrews Douglas on 9/27 (MaB,MHo), 1 at Detour Road Walla Walla on 9/27 and 9/28 (MD,MLD), 1 at Lind Coulee Grant on 9/28 (MaB,MHo), 1 at Wenas Lake Yakima on 9/28 (AS). High count: 8000 reported at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 8/30 (CWr). American Golden-Plover Rare in e WA. 1 molting adult at Potholes Grant on 8/10 (JiF,DGr), 1 at Yakima RD Benton from 9/24 to 10/6 (NLa,BW), 1 at St Andrews Douglas on 9/27, and 2 at Lind Coulee Grant on 9/28 (MaB,MHo), and 1 juvenile at Wenas Lake Yakima from 9/28 to 10/5 (AS). Reports from w WA included 2 at

This juvenile American Golden-Plover was at Wenas Lake, Yakima, September 28 to December 6, 2003. Photo by Denny Granstrand.


Washington Field Notes August-September 2003 Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/26 (PS,RS), 1 at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 8/30 (CWr) with 5 on 9/7 (PS,RS) and 1 there on 9/18 (CWr), 1 at Dungeness Clallam on 9/5 (RR,JiF), and 1 juvenile near Stanwood Snohomish on 9/17 (JW) with 3 on 9/18 (TAv,GAl) and 1 there on 9/25 (SM) Pacific Golden-Plover Reports included 1 near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/2 with 2 on 8/16 (SM) and 1 there on 9/26 (JW), 1 at Bottle Beach Grays Harbor on 8/10 (MaB) and on 9/7 (BT), 4 adults at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/10 with 14 reported on 8/26 and 16 juveniles reported there on 9/25, 22 reported at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 9/7 (PS,RS), with 5 there on 9/18 (CWr). Golden Plover sp. Reports included 1 adult at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 8/10 with 2 juveniles there on 9/18 (CWr), 1 near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/3 with 2 on 8/16 (SM) and 1 there on 9/4 (TAv,GAl). Snowy Plover Uncommon and local. A pair attending to 2 eggs at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/2 (BN,JMu) with 3 reported there on 8/17 (PS,RS), 1 near Stanwood Snohomish on 9/2 and 9/3 (JW,KW), 8 at Midway Beach Pacific on 9/13 (LiA), 2 at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 9/14 (SSh) with 18 there on 9/18 (CWr). Semipalmated Plover Uncommon in e WA. 2 at Lind Coulee Grant on 8/2 (DSc) with 1 on 8/27 (DGr) and 2 there on 9/3 (EH), 1 near Lyle Klickitat on 8/6 (SJ), 2 at Potholes Grant on 8/10 (DGr) with 1 there on 8/17 (DSc), 3 at Walla Walla RD Walla Walla on 8/23 (MD,MLD) with 8 there on 9/2 (SM), 1 at Yakima RD Benton on 8/27 (BW) with 10 on 9/3 (NLa) and 2 there on 9/29 (BW), 1 at Sprague Lake Lincoln on 9/9 (TAv), and 3 at Bennington Lake Walla Walla on 9/17 (MD,MLD). Black Oystercatcher High counts: 30 near Hawk Point Skagit on 8/13 (GB), and 19 at Salt Creek CP Clallam on 9/30 (DMa). Black-necked Stilt Late reports: 7 at Whitcomb Island Benton on 9/6 (KK), and 1 at Iowa Beef Walla Walla on 9/13 (MD,MLD). American Avocet Late reports included 5 at Othello Adams on 9/10 (TAv,KA), 4 at Iowa Beef Walla Walla on 9/13 (MD.MLD), and 1 at Soap Lake Grant on 9/21 (DSc). Greater Yellowlegs High count: 68 near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/14 (SM) with 56 there on 9/13 (JW). Lesser Yellowlegs High counts included 101 for e WA at Othello Adams on 8/31 (SM,DSc), and 44 for w WA near Stanwood Snohomish on 9/6 (JW).

Solitary Sandpiper Reports included 1 near Stanwood Snohomish from 8/2 (SM) to 8/24 (JW), 1 at Montlake Fill King from 8/6 (TAv) to 8/16 (CSi), 1 at Kent King on 8/7 (PS,RS), 1 at Vashon Island King on 8/8 (ESw), 1 at Bainbridge Island Kitsap on 8/9 (BWg), 1 at Lower Crab Creek Grant on 8/10 (DGr), 1 west of Alger Skagit from 8/11 to 8/13 (DiB), 1 at Cochreham Island Skagit 8/13 (GB), 4 at Crooked Knee Lake Whitman on 8/16 (BS), 3 at Quincy Grant on 8/17 (DSc), 3 at Reardan Lincoln on 8/23 (GiS), 2 near Walla Walla Walla Walla on 8/23 (MD,MLD), 1 at Ryderwood Cowlitz from 8/23 (RKo) to 8/29 (KK), 1 at Frater Lake Pend Oreille on 8/24, 2 near Valley Stevens on 8/24 (PS,RS), 5 at Othello Adams on 8/29 (SM), 6 at Yakima RD Benton on 8/30 (PB), 1 at Lind Coulee Grant on 9/3 (EH), 1 at Sprague Lake Lincoln on 9/9 (TAv), and 1 at Alderdale Klickitat on 9/20 (SJ). Willet Uncommon and local. 1 at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/8 (DSc) and on 8/10 (PS,RS), and 1 at Tokeland Pacific on 8/9 (DSc) with 13 there on 9/3 (TAv). Wandering Tattler Locally uncommon. 1 at Bainbridge Island Kitsap from 8/6 to 8/8 (BWg), and 1 at Edmonds Snohomish on 8/30 (DD). Whimbrel Rare in e WA. 1 at Wenatchee Chelan from 9/15 to 9/19 (DBe). Long-billed Curlew Rare away from outer coast in w WA. 1 reported at Luhr Beach Thurston on 8/20 (JPa). HUDSONIAN GODWIT Rare in WA. 1 adult reported at Smithson Rd Kittitas on 8/21 (SDo), 1 juvenile at Bottle Beach Grays Harbor on 9/20 (JeB), and 1 juvenile near Stanwood Snohomish on 9/23 (JW). Marbled Godwit Rare in e WA. 4 at Heron Pond Spokane on 8/23 (GiS), and 1 at Walla Walla RD Walla Walla on 9/11 (TAv). Reports from w WA included 538 at Tokeland Pacific on 9/3 (TAv), 2 at Dungeness Clallam on 9/11 (RR), 2 at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 9/13 (JnW) with 4 there on 9/14 (SSh), 6 at Chinook Pacific on 9/20 (MD,MLD), 1 near Stanwood Snohomish on 9/23 (JW), and 250 at Westport Grays Harbor on 9/21 (PS,RS). Ruddy Turnstone Rare in e WA. 1 adult at Potholes Grant on 8/3 (DSc) and 8/4 (DBe). Red Knot Uncommon in fall. 3 at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/10 with 14 reported there on 8/17 (PS,RS), 1 near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/23 with 3 on 9/5 and 1 there on 9/13 (JW), 2 at Bottle Beach Grays Harbor on 9/7 (BT), 3 at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 9/13 (JnW) with 5 there on

9/14 (SSh), and 20 at Oysterville Pacific on 9/21 (CWr). Sanderling Uncommon in fall in e WA. 1 remaining from July at Lind Coulee Grant on 8/2 (DSc), 2 at Soap Lake Grant from 8/17 to 9/14 (DSc) with 1 there to 9/27 (MaB,MHo), 1 at Yakima RD Benton on 9/5 (NLa), 4 at Lind Coulee Grant on 9/16 (DSc) with 1 there on 9/17 (RH), 17 at Potholes Grant on 9/20 (DSc) and 1 at Roosevelt Klickitat on 9/20 (SJ). Semipalmated Sandpiper Reports included 1 at St Andrews Douglas on 8/2 (DBe) and 8/29, 3 near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/2 with 9 on 8/7 and 1 there on 9/8 (SM), 2 at Lind Coulee Grant on 8/2 (DSc) with 8 on 9/3 (EH) and 4 there on 9/11 (TAv), 4 at Potholes Grant on 8/3 (DSc) with 2 there on 8/10 (DGr), 1 at Kent King from 8/4 to 8/27 (MaB), 1 at Lyle Klickitat on 8/6 (SJ), 2 at Swantown Island on 8/9 (SM), 1 at Elbe Pierce on 8/10 (KK), 2 at Lower Crab Creek Grant on 8/10 (DGr), 1 at Bainbridge Island Kitsap on 8/16 (BWg), 1 at Everett Snohomish on 8/16 (SM), 1 at Sheep Lake Whitman on 8/16 (BS), 1 at Soap Lake Grant on 8/17 (DSc) with 2 there on 9/18 (BT), 1 at Hatton Adams on 8/28, 1 at Othello Adams on 8/28 (TAv,HO), and 1 at Wenas Lake Yakima on 9/1 (SDo). Baird’s Sandpiper High counts for e WA included 16 at Yakima RD Benton on 9/3 (BW), 24 at Swanson Lakes Lincoln on 8/23 (GiS), 36 at Othello Adams on 8/31 (DSc), 121 near St Andrews Douglas on 8/29 (SM) with 162 there on 9/7 (DBe), 20 at Wenas Lake Yakima on 9/7 (DGr), and 64 at Lind Coulee Grant on 9/6 (CWr). Reports from w WA included 2 near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/7 (TAv) with 17 on 8/28 (GAl,HA) and 21 there on 9/2 (JW), 4 reported at Elbe Pierce on 8/10 (KK), 1 at Kent King from 8/21 to 8/27 (MaB), 1 at Ryderwood Cowlitz on 8/23 (RKo,DaH) and on 8/29 (KK), 1 at Cochreham Island Skagit on 8/29 (GB), and 1 at Dungeness Clallam on 8/30 (GG). Pectoral Sandpiper High counts included 10 near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/7 (TAv) with 37 on 9/17 and 43 there on 9/23 (JW,KW), and 37 at Lind Coulee Grant on 9/6 (CWr) with 27 there on 9/26 (RFl). Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Rare in WA. 1 near Stanwood Snohomish on 9/15 (JW) with 3 there on 9/25 (SM) and 9/26 (JW), and 1 at Detour Road Walla Walla on 9/27 and 9/28 (MD,MLD). Dunlin Early reports included 3 at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/10 with 12 reported there on 8/17 (PS,RS), 2 at


Leadbetter Point Pacific on 8/10 (CWr), 2 near Stanwood Snohomish on 9/13 (JW). Stilt Sandpiper Uncommon in WA. 2 near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/14 (TAv) with 4 on 8/18 and 2 there on 9/26 (JW), 1 at Steptoe Whitman on 8/16 (BS), 1 at Fir Island Skagit on 8/17 (SA), 2 at Yakima RD Benton on 8/22 with 1 there on 8/29 (BW), 1 near Coulee City Grant on 8/22 (DSc), 7 reported at Sheep Lake Whitman on 8/23 (GiS), 1 at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/26 (PS,RS), 2 at Sprague Lake Adams on 8/27 (DGr), 1 at Lind Coulee Grant on 8/27 (DGr) with 4 there on 9/11 (TAv) and 9/26 (RFl), 1 at Kent King on 9/4, and 2 at Soap Lake Grant on 9/27 (MaB). BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Rare in WA. 1 reported at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/26 (PS,RS), and 1 at Port Townsend Jefferson from 9/1 (DWg,BWg) to 9/7 (MaB). RUFF Rare in WA. 1 at Lind Coulee Grant on 8/23 (BLa,NLa), 1 juvenile female at Dungeness Clallam from 8/30 (GG) to 9/7 (fide BN), 1 juvenile female near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/30 (JW) with 2 there from 9/8 to 9/13 (SM,JW) 1 juvenile male on 9/13 and 9/14 (SM) and 1 female remaining to 9/26 (JW), 1 juvenile female at Iowa Beef Walla Walla on 9/11 (TAv), and 1 reported at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 9/25 (PS,RS). Short-billed Dowitcher Uncommon in e WA. 3 at Lower Crab Creek Grant on 8/10 (DGr), 2 at Lind Coulee Grant on 8/28 (TAv,HO) with 4 there on 8/31, 1 at Othello Adams on 8/29 (SM) with 2 there on 9/10 (TAv,KA), 1 at Reardan Lincoln on 9/5 (JA), 2 at Sprague Lake Lincoln on 9/9 (TAv), and 1 at Sheep Lake Whitman on 9/10 (JA). Long-billed Dowitcher High counts included 347 at Lind Coulee Grant on 9/26 (RFl), and 250 at Soap Lake Grant on 9/27 (MaB,MHo). Wilson’s Phalarope Late for e WA. 2 at Potholes Grant on 9/11, and 1 at Iowa Beef Walla Walla on 9/11 (TAv). Rare in fall in w WA. 3 near Stanwood Snohomish from 8/2 to 8/16 (SM). Red-necked Phalarope High counts included 660 at Useless Bay Island on 8/9 (SM), 900 at Point No Point Kitsap on 8/23 (VN), 550 at Soap Lake Grant on 8/29 (SM), 1000 reported at Dungeness Spit Clallam on 9/6 (fide BN), and 110 at Lind Coulee Grant on 9/11 (TAv). Pomarine Jaeger Uncommon from land. 1 at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/10 (PS,RS), and 6 reported at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 8/10 (CWr).

Parasitic Jaeger Rare in e WA. 1 at Potholes Grant on 8/17 (DSc,DBe), and 2 at Walla Walla RD Walla Walla on 9/13 with 1 on 9/14 and 9/16 (MD,MLD). South Polar Skua High count: 11 on the Westport Pelagic Grays Harbor on 9/6 (BL). Franklin’s Gull Uncommon in WA. Reports of first year birds included 1 at Paterson Slough Benton on 8/12 (NLa,BW), 1 at Sprague Lake Lincoln from 8/25 (PS,RS) to 9/9 (TAv), 1 at Lopez Island San Juan on 8/31 (EdK), 1 at Iowa Beef Walla Walla on 9/2 (SM) with 2 there on 9/6 (KK), 1 at Edmonds Snohomish on 9/8 (DD), 1 at East Wenatchee Douglas on 9/9 (DBe), 1 at Walla Walla RD Walla Walla on 9/11 (TAv) and on 9/27 (MD,MLD), and 1 at Soap Lake Grant on 9/18 (BT) and on 9/27 (MaB,MHo). Heermann’s Gull High count: 750 at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/1 (MDo). Mew Gull Uncommon in e WA. 1 adult at Iowa Beef Walla Walla on 9/2 (SM). Sabine’s Gull Uncommon in e WA. 1 at East Wenatchee Douglas on 8/30 and 9/16 (DBe), 1 at Yakima RD Benton from 9/3 to 9/8 (BW), 1 juvenile at Sprague Lake Adams on 9/7 (JA), 2 juveniles at Soap Lake Grant on 9/11 (TAv) with 3 reported there on 9/18 (DBe), 2 at Walla Walla RD Walla Walla on 9/16, 1 at Bennington Lake Walla Walla on 9/17 (MD,MLD), 1 juvenile at Potholes Grant on 9/20 (DSc), and 2 at Lyle Klickitat on 9/20 (JB). Uncommon in Puget Sound. 1 at Dash Point King from 9/21 (CWr) to 9/30 (PS,RS). Common Tern Reports from e WA included 5 at Walla Walla RD Walla Walla on 8/23 with 15 on 9/13 and 2 there on 9/27 (MD,MLD), 1 at Sprague Lake Adams/Lincoln on 8/25 (PS,RS) with 41 on 9/1 (SM) and 16 there on 9/10 (JA), 1 at Vantage Kittitas on 8/27 (TAv,HO) with 6 there on 9/18 (BT), 3 at McNary Dam Benton on 9/2 with 2 there on 9/6 (SM), 6 at Yakima RD Benton on 9/8 with 10 there on 9/24 (BW), 10 at Potholes Grant on 9/11, 2 at Soap Lake Grant on 9/11, 30 at McNary NWR Walla Walla on 9/11 (TAv), 1 at Lyle Klickitat on 9/16 and 9/25 (SJ), and 2 at Banks Lake Grant on 9/27 (MaB,MHo). Arctic Tern Only report: 2 on the Westport Pelagic Grays Harbor on 8/9 (fide TAv). Forster’s Tern Late reports for e WA: 10 at Lind Coulee Grant on 9/3 (EH), 1 juvenile at Potholes Grant on 9/11 (TAv), 7 at McNary NWR Walla Walla on 9/14 (MD,MLD), and 6 at Wind Dust Park Franklin on 9/15 (CWr).

Black Tern Uncommon fall migrant. 1 at Walla Walla RD Walla Walla on 8/23 (MD,MLD), 6 at Sprague Lake Adams/Lincoln on 8/27 (DGr), and 1 at Yakima RD Benton on 9/1 (BW). XANTU’S MURRELET Considered rare in WA. 2 S.h. scrippi on the Westport Pelagic Grays Harbor on 8/9 (BL). Ancient Murrelet Rare in e WA. 1 at Wanapum Dam Kittitas/Grant on 9/14 (MMo). Tufted Puffin Uncommon and local. 7 at Protection Island Jefferson on 8/2 (PLo), 4 at Smith Island Island on 8/3 (DiB,JW), 5 at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/13 (KK,JnW), 2 at Diamond Point Clallam on 9/4 (MtB) with 3 there on 9/7 (MaB), and 70 reported flying by Fort Canby SP Pacific on 9/21 (WC). Band-tailed Pigeon Uncommon in e WA. 1 at Goat Rocks Wilderness Yakima on 8/24, and 3 at Upper Morse Creek Yakima on 8/31 (AS). Mourning Dove High count: 460 at Detour Road Walla Walla on 9/14 (MD,MLD). Great Horned Owl High elevation report: 3 above 6100’ at Sunrise in Mount Rainier NP Pierce on 9/20 (TAv,ArG). Northern Pygmy-Owl Locally uncommon. 1 juvenile banded at Fort Lewis Pierce on 8/8 (DN). Barred Owl Locally uncommon. 1 at Takhlakh Lake Skamania on 8/22 (JmS), and 1 at 6100’ at Sunrise in Mount Rainier NP Pierce on 9/20 (TAv,ArG). Great Gray Owl Rare and local in WA. 1 at Clearwater Guard Station Garfield on 9/20 (fide SM). Short-eared Owl Early report: 1 east of Othello Adams on 8/7 (RH). Common Nighthawk High counts for e WA: 200 at Wenas Lake Yakima on 8/21 (AS,DGr), and 80 at Hooper Junction Adams on 8/30 (SM). Uncommon and local in w WA. 3 at Poulsbo Kitsap on 8/10 (JAc), 2 at Belfair Mason on 8/12 (MHr), 4 at Bonney Lake Pierce on 8/29 (CWr), 1 near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/30 (JW), 1 at American Camp San Juan on 9/13 (PS), and 1 at Richmond Beach King on 9/14 (DN). Common Poorwill Late reports: 1 near Orondo Douglas on 9/24 (DBe), and 1 east of Lyle Klickitat on 9/29 (BT). White-throated Swift Late reports: 3 at Palouse Falls SP Franklin on 9/13 (DSc) with 16 reported there on 9/15 (CWr). Anna’s Hummingbird Locally uncommon. 1 at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 8/10 (PS,RS), 1 at Tumwater Thurston on 8/24 (BT), 1 near Wapato

Washington Field Notes August-September 2003


Yakima from 9/8 to 9/30 (AS), 1 at Bingen Klickitat from 9/18 to 9/30 (SJ), 1 at Lyle Klickitat on 9/20 (JB), and 1 reported at Ridgefield NWR Clark on 9/28 (EKn). Rufous Hummingbird Late reports: 1 at Seattle King on 9/15 (IS), 1 at Tenino Thurston on 9/15 (BSu), 1 at Mount Pleasant Skamania on 9/16 (WC), 2 at Ocean Shores Grays Harbor on 9/17 (fide TAv), and 1 at Bottle Beach Grays Harbor on 9/21 (PS,RS). Lewis Woodpecker Reports of migrants included 1 above 5000’ at North Fork of Ahtanum Creek Yakima on 8/31 (RH), 1 at Harrigan Rd. Franklin on 9/1 (SR), 1 at Conboy Lake NWR Klickitat on 9/4 (JE), 1 at East Wenatchee Douglas on 9/10 (DBe), 55 near Lyle Klickitat on 9/20 (JB), 1 at Mount Pleasant Skamania on 9/1 and 9/14, and 1 at Steigerwald Lake NWR Clark on 9/15 (WC). Acorn Woodpecker High count: 5 near Lyle Klickitat on 9/20 (JB). Extremely rare away from limited WA range. 1 flyover reportedly observed at North Fork Ahtanum Yakima on 9/1 (RH) Red-naped Sapsucker Late migrant reports included 1 at Vantage Kittitas on 9/10 (KA), 1 at Palouse Falls SP Franklin on 9/13 (DSc) and 9/15 (CWr), 1 northwest of Goldendale Klickitat on 9/23 (SJ), 1 at Fort Simcoe Yakima on 9/28 (KT). Red-breasted Sapsucker Uncommon in e WA. 1 at Upper Morse Creek Yakima on 9/1 (AS,ElS), 2 north of Lyle Klickitat on 9/20 (JB), 1 east of Yakima Yakima on 9/23 (fide DGr), and 1 at Conboy Lake NWR Klickitat on 9/25 (JE). White-headed Woodpecker Reports included 1 at Nile Creek Burn Yakima on 8/5 (AG) with 6 reported there on 9/13 (CWr). American Three-toed Woodpecker Reports included 1 at Union Creek Trail Yakima on 8/5 (AG), 12 on Forest Roads 37 and 39 Okanogan on 8/23 (BSu), and 1 at Summerland in Mount Rainier NP Pierce on 8/9 (BY). Black-backed Woodpecker Uncommon in WA. 1 at Nile Creek Burn Yakima on 8/5 (AG) and 9/13 (CWr). Olive-sided Flycatcher Migrant reports included 3 at Hood Park Walla Walla on 8/23 (MD,MLD), 1 at Moses Lake Grant

on 8/25 (DSc), 1 at Montlake Fill King on 8/27 (TAv), 2 at Palouse Falls Franklin on 9/1 (SM), 1 at Sprague Lake Lincoln on 9/9 (TAv), 1 at Wahluke Slope WMA Franklin on 9/10 (KA), and 2 at Oysterville Pacific on 9/20 (WC). Western Wood-Pewee High altitude report: 1 at 6800’ on Darland Mountain Yakima on 8/20 (TAv,HO). Willow Flycatcher High count: 19 at South Prairie Pierce on 9/5 (CWr). Least Flycatcher Rare in fall in WA. 1 at Wahluke Slope WMA Franklin on 8/31 (SM). Gray Flycatcher Migrant reports included 1 at Hood Park Walla Walla on 8/23 (MD,MLD), 1 at Palouse Falls Franklin on 9/1 (SM), 2 banded at Columbia NWR Grant on 9/3 with 1 recaptured on 9/11, 1

at Ritzville Adams on 9/6 (RH), 1 at East Wenatchee Douglas on 9/10 (DBe), and 1 at Washtucna Adams on 9/13 (DSc). BLACK PHOEBE Rare in WA. 1 at Ridgefield NWR Clark on 8/13 (TAv) and 8/22 (KK,HA), and 1 at Julia Butler Hansen NWR Wahkiakum from 8/17 (KK) to 9/30 (RKo). Ash-throated Flycatcher Migrants rarely reported. 1 at Steigerwald Lake NWR Clark on 8/29 (WC), and 1 at Ringold Franklin on 8/31 (SM,DSc). TROPICAL KINGBIRD Rare and early for WA. Silent bird was probably this species but Couch’s Kingbird was not eliminated. 1 at Oysterville Pacific on 9/20 (WC,CWr). Western Kingbird Rare in fall in w WA. 1 at Montlake Fill King on 9/1 (JB), 1 at

Fort Canby SP Pacific on 9/2 (DP), and 1 reported at Marymoor Park King on 9/17 (MiH). Eastern Kingbird Late reports from e WA included 1 at Toppenish NWR Yakima on 8/31 (KT), and 3 at Sprague Lake Lincoln on 9/9 (TAv). Rare breeder in w WA. 4 near Marblemount Skagit on 8/1 (WW). SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER Rare in WA. 1 at Montlake Fill King on 8/2 (CrM,SMa). Northern Shrike Early shrike report that was probably this species. 1 at Hidden Lake Trail Skagit on 9/28 (GB). Hutton’s Vireo Rare in e WA. 1 reported at North Fork of Ahtanum Creek Yakima on 10/6 (RFl).

Warbling Vireo High count: 40 reported at South Prairie Pierce on 9/5 (CWr). Red-eyed Vireo Migrant reports included 1 at Washtucna Adams on 8/28 (TAv,HO) and 9/6 (CWr), 1 at Lyons Ferry SP Franklin on 8/28 (TAv,HO) and 9/15 (CWr), 12 at Mount Pleasant Skamania on 8/30 (WC), 2 at South Prairie Pierce on 9/5 (CWr), 1 at Palouse Falls SP Franklin on 9/9 (TAv), and 1 at Marymoor Park King on 9/10 (MiH). Gray Jay Uncommon in w WA lowlands. 4 at West Olympia Thurston on 9/16 (ESw), and 2 at Salt Creek CP Clallam on 9/23 (BN). Steller’s Jay Migrant reports included 53 flying north at Leadbetter Point

Pacific on 9/3 (TAv), and 30 moving through the Columbia Hills Klickitat on 10/18 (SJ,TmH). Western Scrub Jay Northward expansion continues. 1 at Devil’s Tailbone Ridge Garfield on 8/1 (fide SM), 2 at Ballard King from 8/4 to 9/6 (RT), 1 at Bremerton Kitsap on 8/11 (MKl), 1 at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 9/3 (TAv), 1 at Seattle King on 9/18 (DP), 1 at Moonax Klickitat on 9/20 (SJ), and 6 at Rock Creek Klickitat on 9/22 (SJ). Common Raven High count: 95 at Florence Snohomish on 8/9 (SM). Horned Lark Reports included 1 at Marymoor Park King on 9/10 (HFl), 3 pallid types at Ediz Hook Clallam on 9/17, 20 pallid types at Obstruction Point Clallam on 9/17 (TAv), 2 at Leadbetter Point Pacific


Adult female Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Montlake Fill, Seattle, King, August 2, 2003. Photo by Stuart MacKay.


on 9/18 (CWr), 15 at Midway Beach Pacific on 9/21 (PS,RS), and 2 on open ground west of Satus Pass Klickitat on 9/23 (SJ). Purple Martin Reports included 15 at West Seattle King on 8/2 (KL), 4 at Anacortes Skagit on 8/2 (fide DiB), a pair feeding young at Lake Sammamish King on 8/4 (KL), 5 at Vashon Island King on 8/8 (ESw), 20 at Ridgefield Clark on 8/13, 2 at Everett Snohomish on 8/14 (TAv), 38 at Julia Butler Hansen NWR Wahkiakum on 8/15, 4 at Fort Canby SP Pacific on 8/16 (MD,MLD), 25 at Woodard Bay Thurston on 8/17 with 4 there on 9/7 (JPa), 1 at Bingen Klickitat from 8/21 to 8/28 (SJ), 2 at Montlake Fill King on 9/3 (CSi), and 2 at Discovery Park King on 9/7 (DHu). Violet-green Swallow High count: 4000 at Woodland Cowlitz on 9/15 (WW). Bank Swallow High count: 2000 at Sprague Lake Adams/Lincoln on 8/27 (DGr). Uncommon in w WA. 1 near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/7 (SM) and 8/21 (TAv), 1 at Montlake Fill King on 8/9 (SMa), 1 at Ridgefield NWR Clark on 8/13 (TAv), 1 at Jensen Access Skagit on 8/16, 2 near Conway Skagit on 9/13 (SM), and 1 at Kent King on 9/14 (CWr). Barn Swallow High counts included 500 at Sprague Lake Adams/Lincoln on 9/9 (TAv), and 200 at Detour Road Walla Walla on 9/28 (MD,MLD). Cliff Swallow Late reports included 2 at Lopez Island San Juan on 9/13 (PS), 2 at Lind Coulee Grant on 9/14 (DSc), and 1 at Oysterville Pacific on 9/18 (CWr). Mountain Chickadee Local ly uncommon. 1 at Squaw Creek Klickitat on 9/22 (SJ). White-breasted Nuthatch Reports away from sw WA core area range included 1 near Wood Lake Mason on 8/18 (MaM), and 1 at Woodland Cowlitz on 9/15 (WW). Bewick’s Wren Locally uncommon. 1 at 5500’ near Upper Morse Creek Yakima on 8/10 (AS,ElS), 2 at Washtucna Adams on 8/28 (TAv,HO), 1 at Sprague Lake Lincoln on 9/28 (MaB,MHo). House Wren Late reports for e WA included 1 at Potholes Grant on 9/20 (DSc), and 1 east of Brooks Memorial SP Klickitat on 9/23 (SJ), and 1 at Ridgefield

NWR Clark on 8/16 (WC), and 1 at Lopez Island San Juan on 9/13 (PS) for w WA. Winter Wren Early reports for e WA included 1 at Washtucna Adams on 9/9 (TAv), 1 near McAdam Franklin on 9/15, 2 at Wind Dust Park Franklin on 9/15 (CWr), and 1 at Columbia NWR Grant on 9/30 (RH). Golden-crowned Kinglet Early for Columbia Basin: 1 at Ephrata Grant on 8/29 (SM). Ruby-crowned Kinglet Early lowland reports included 1 at Washtucna Adams on 9/6 (KK), 1 at Richland Benton on 9/9 (BW), and 1 at Woodland Park Zoo King on 9/13 (TAv). Western Bluebird Locally uncommon. 2 at Hurricane Ridge Clallam on 8/4 (fide

BN), and 20 reported near Deer Park Clallam on 8/15 (JWf). Townsend’s Solitaire Uncommon in w WA. 1 at Point No Point Kitsap on 8/28 (VN), and 1 at Obstruction Point Road Clallam on 9/17 (TAv). Hermit Thrush Early for lowlands. 1 reported at South Prairie Pierce on 9/5 (CWr). Gray Catbird Migrant reports included 1 at Washtucna Adams on 8/28 (TAv,HO), 14 at Rooks Park Walla Walla on 9/6 (MD,MLD), and 1 at East Wenatchee Douglas on 9/23 (DBe). Sage Thrasher Late reports included 6 at Old Vantage Highway Kittitas on 9/11 (SDo), and 1 at Sun Lakes SP Grant on 9/14 (BN). European Starling High count: 200,000 at Wahluke Slope WMA Franklin on 9/30 (RH)

GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER Rare in WA. 1 male near Restoration Point Kitsap on 9/11 (BWg) and 9/12 (GG). Nashville Warbler Uncommon in w WA. 1 at Takhlakh Lake Skamania on 8/22 with 2 there on 8/23 (JmS), 1 at Belfair Mason on 8/29 (MHr), 3 reported at Hoquiam Grays Harbor on 8/30 (PS,RS), and 1 reported at Discovery Park King on 9/9 (MtB). NORTHERN PARULA Rare in WA. 1 near Midway Beach Pacific on 9/7 (BT,TS). “Myrtle” Yellow-rumped Warbler Early for WA. 1 at Fir Island Skagit on 8/9 (SM). Black-throated Gray Warbler Late for e WA. 1 at Lyle Klickitat on 9/25 (SJ). Hermit Warbler Locally uncommon. 5 reported at Paradise in Mount Rainier NP Pierce on 8/3 (PS,RS), 3 reported near

Wood Lake Mason on 8/18 (MaM), 1 at Takhlakh Lake Skamania on 8/22 (JmS), and 1 at Mount Pleasant Skamania on 8/30 (WC). Hermit X Townsend’s Warbler Locally rare. 1 at Confluence SP Chelan on 8/29 (SM). Palm Warbler Rare in e WA. 1 at Sprague Lake Lincoln on 9/28 (MHo). BLACKPOLL WARBLER Rare in WA. 1 at Lyons Ferry SP Franklin on 9/6 with a different bird there on 9/15 (CWr), and 1 at Sprague Lake Lincoln on 9/9 (TAv). A m e r i c a n R e d s t a r t Uncommon as migrant in WA. 1 at Ridgefield NWR Clark on 8/16 (WC), 1 at Lyons Ferry SP Franklin on

8/28 (TAv,HO) with 3 there on 8/30, 1 at Confluence SP Chelan on 8/29 (SM), and 1 at Kahlotus Franklin on 9/5 (KK). Northern Waterthrush Rare fall migrant in w WA. 1 at Montlake Fill King on 8/21 (TAv) and 1 reported at Hoquiam Grays Harbor on 8/26 (PS,RS). MacGillivray’s Warbler Migrant reports included 3 banded at Columbia NWR Grant on 9/3 (RH), 1 at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 9/18 (CWr), 1 at Midway Beach Pacific on 9/21 (PS,RS), and 2 at Rooks Park Walla Walla on 9/23 (MD,MLD). Common Yellowthroat Locally uncommon in e WA. 1 at Hood Park Walla Walla on 8/23 (MD,MLD), 1 at Lyons Ferry SP Franklin on 8/28 (TAv,HO) with 2 there on 9/15 (CWr), 1 at Bateman Island Benton on 9/7 (BLa,NLa), 6 at Sprague Lake


Golden-winged Warbler found by Brad Waggoner near Restoration Point, Kitsap, 9/11/2003 and 9/12/2003. Photo from video by George Pandion.


Lincoln on 9/9 (TAv), 4 banded at Columbia NWR Grant on 9/10 (RH), and 1 at Wind Dust Park Franklin on 9/15 (CWr). Wilson’s Warbler High count: 50 in the Washtucna area Adams on 8/28 (TAv,HO). Yellow-breasted Chat Late reports for e WA included 1 at Confluence SP Chelan on 8/29, 1 at Lyons Ferry SP Franklin on 8/30 (SM), and 1 reported at Sun Lakes SP Grant on 9/14 (BN). Chipping Sparrow Locally uncommon in w WA. 1 juvenile at Takhlakh Lake Skamania on 8/23 (JmS), 1 juvenile at Montlake Fill King on 8/27 and 9/4 (TAv), and 6 at Steigerwald Lake NWR Clark on 9/1 (JnW). Clay-colored Sparrow Rare in w WA in early fall. 1 at Steigerwald Lake NWR Clark from 8/29 to 9/7 (WC). Brewer’s Sparrow Late reports included 1 banded at Columbia NWR Grant on 9/11 (RH), 3 at Potholes Grant on 9/11 (TAv), and 2 at Wind Dust Park Franklin on 9/15 (CWr). Vesper Sparrow Rare in fall in w WA. 1 at Discovery Park King on 9/19 (KA). Lark Sparrow Late reports included 1 at Vantage Kittitas on 8/27 (TAv,HO), and 1 at Conboy Lake NWR Klickitat on 9/5 (JE). Sage Sparrow Late report: 1 at Sand Ridge Road Klickitat on 9/21 (SJ). Fox Sparrow Early arrivals of Sooty migrants for w WA included 1 at Capitol Forest Thurston on 8/29 (BSu) and 4 reported at Hoquiam Grays Harbor on 8/30 (PS,RS). Lincoln’s Sparrow Early lowland reports included 1 at Marymoor Park King on 8/27 (MiH), 3 at Washtucna Adams on 8/28 (TAv,HO), and 4 at Steigerwald Lake NWR Clark on 9/1 (JnW). White-throated Sparrow Uncommon in early fall in WA. 1 at Spokane Spokane on 9/18 (JA), 1 at Bainbridge Island Kitsap on 9/26 with 2 there from 9/27 to 9/30 (DoW), and 1 at North Richland Benton on 9/30 (BW). White-crowned Sparrow First migrant report for e WA. 2 banded at Columbia NWR Grant on 9/3 (RH). Golden-crowned Sparrow Uncommon in e WA. 1 at Sprague Lake Lincoln on 9/9 (TAv), 1 near Washtucna Adams on 9/13 (RH), 1 at Palouse Falls Franklin on 9/13 (DSc), 1 at Hood Park Walla Walla on 9/13 (MD,MLD), 2 at Wind Dust Park Franklin on 9/15 (CWr), 1 at Spokane Spokane on 9/18, 1 at Davenport Lincoln on 9/22 (JA), and 1 at Confluence SP Chelan on 9/27 (DBe). Early for w WA. 1 reported at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 8/30 (CWr).

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK Rare in WA. 1 female at Everett Snohomish on 9/14 (SM). Bobolink Rare in w WA. 1 in female plumage at Leadbetter Point Pacific on 9/7 (PS,RS). Yellow-headed Blackbird High count: 5000 at Corfu Grant on 9/8 (RH). Uncommon in w WA. 1 at Warm Beach Snohomish on 8/2 (MR) with 3 there on 8/16, 3 near Stanwood Snohomish on 8/9 with up to 9 through 8/29 (SM) and , 5 there on 9/11(JW), 1 at Ridgefield NWR Clark on 8/13 (TAv), 1 at Fir Island Skagit on 8/17 (SA), and 1 at Montlake Fill King on 8/19 (TAv). COMMON GRACKLE Rare in WA. 1 at Emerald Downs near Kent King on 8/15 (ARo). Bullock’s Oriole Late for WA. 1 at Washtucna Adams on 9/6 (KK), and 1 at Potholes SP Grant on 9/11 (TAv). Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Locally uncommon. 22 at Hidden Lake Trail Skagit on 9/28 (GB). Pine Grosbeak Uncommon in WA. 1 at low elevation near Elbow Lake Thurston on 8/2 (PH), and 3 near Crystal Mountain Pierce on 8/31 (AS,ElS). White-winged Crossbill Uncommon and irregular in WA. 1 west of Baldy Pass Okanogan on 8/23 (BSu), and 4 below Hart’s Pass Okanogan on 8/24 (IWo). Lesser Goldfinch reports included 3 at Bingen Klickitat on 8/21 (SJ), 24 near Lyle Klickitat on 9/20 (JB), and 2 southwest of Bickleton Klickitat on 9/21 (SJ). Orange Bishop Increased reports of introduced species. 1 at Seattle King from 8/15 (fide TAv) to at least 8/22 (AG). OBSERVERS: EA Eric Anderson, HA Howard Armstrong, JA Jim Acton, KA Kevin Aanerud, LiA Linda Adams, SA Scott Atkinson, JAc Jamie Acker, GAl Gail Aslanian, TAv Tom Aversa, BoB Bob Boekelhyde, DiB Diane Bednarz, JB Jan Bragg, JeB Jeff Bryant, GB Gary Bletch, MaB Marv Breece, MtB Matt Bartels, PB Phil Bartley, BBe Brian Bell, DBe Dave Beaudette, RoC Roger Chou, WC Wilson Cady, WCu Warren Currant, DD Dennis Duffy, MD Mike Denny, MLD Merry Lynn Denny, RD Ron Dexter, MDo Mike Donahue, SDo Scott Downes, JDw Jan Dawson, JE Joe Engler, JiF Jim Flynn, RFl Bob Flores, AG Alan Grenon, ArG Arthur Grimes, GG George Gertz, KGl Kevin Glueckert, DGr Denny Granstrand, DaH Dave Hayden, EH Gene Hunn, IH Inga Holmquist, MiH Michael Hobbs, PH Paul

Hicks, RH Randy Hill, ShH Sherry Hagen, MHo Mark Houston, DHr Dan Harrington, MHr Mary Hrudkaj, DHu David Hutchison, SJ Stuart Johnson, EdK Ed Kane, KK Ken Knittle, MKl Mary Klein, EKn Eric Knight, RKo Russ Koppendrayer, EKr Gene Kridler, BL Bruce Labar, KL Kevin Li, BLa Bill LaFramboise, NLa Nancy LaFramboise, PLo Patricia Lott, CdM Chad Merkley, CrM Craig Miller, GuM Guy McWethy, MaM Matthew Moskswik, SM Steve Mlodinow, DMa Diann MacRae, SMa Stuart MacKay, MMo Matt Monda, JMu Judy Mullally, BN Bob Norton, DN Don Norman, VN Vic Nelson, ENe Ed Newbold, HO Hal Opperman, TO Tim O’Brien, DP Dennis Paulson, SP Steve Pink, JPa Jason Paulios, MPa Mike Patterson, DR Dennis Rockwell, MR Marcus Roenig, RR Russell Rogers, SR Scott Ray, CRi Carol Riddell, ARo Alan Roedell, AS Andy Stepniewski, AlS Allyssa Sampson, BS Bill Shelberdine, ElS Ellen Stepniewski, GiS Gina Sheridan, IS Ilene Samowitz, JmS Jaimie Simmons, PS Patrick Sullivan, RS Ruth Sullivan, TS Tom Schooley, DSc Doug Schonewald, SSh Steve Shunk, CSi Connie Sidles, MSp Meredith Spencer, BSu Bob Sundstrom, ESw Ed Swan, BT Bill Tweit, GT Greg Toffic, KT Kerry Turley, KaT Kathryn True, RT Ruth Taylor, BW Bob Woodley, DoW Doug Watkins, GW George Wiles, JW Jan Wiggers, JnW John Williams, KW Keith Wiggers, WW Wayne Weber, JWf Joan Westhoff, BWg Brad Waggoner, DWg Dan Waggoner, IWo Isadora Wong, CWr Charlie Wright, BY Bill Yates.



RARE BIRD ALERTS

Field Notes & Washington Field Notes SPRING DEADLINE: JUNE 15

(March — May sightings)

Send bird sightings to:

Tom Aversa 305 NW 75th St

Seattle WA 98103 [email protected]

Washington Review Species – Reports of review species (see Washington Birds 5:1-6 or the WOS Field Card) may be sent to the “Washington Field Notes” compiler or directly to the Washington Bird Records Committee, c/o Phil Mattocks, 5421 Hanson Rd., Ellensburg WA 98926.

Please submit detailed descriptions and drawings or photographs, if possible, of unusual birds.

BAND RECOVERIES (“Avise” leg bands) should be reported. Include the band number, along with how, when, and where the band was recovered, preferably with reference to the nearest town. Persons who report bands receive a Certificate of Appreciation telling when, where, and by whom the bird was banded, so be sure to include your full name and address with all reports.

Report to:

B i r d B a n d i n g L a b o r a t o r y 12100 Beech Forest Road, Suite 4037 Laurel MD 20708

Phone: (800) 327-BAND

E-mail [email protected] http://www.pwrc.nbs.gov/bbl

WOS BirdBox Tri Cities Area SE Wash/N Idaho South Idaho Oregon Vancouver, B.C. Victoria, B.C. Okanagan, B.C.

(206) 281-9172 (509) 627-2473 (208) 882-6195 (208) 236-3337 (503) 292-0661 (604) 737-3074 (250) 592-3381 (250) 491-7738

Accipiters: Winter site fidelity study. Cooper's hawks: Blue VID bands (Note right or left leg and engraved number and letter on VID band). Sharp-shinned hawks: either one or two color(only) bands on the same leg (Note right or left leg and top/bottom color if two bands). Other leg has standard aluminum band. Note date, time and location. Report to Jack Bettesworth, 2569 12th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119, 206-285-5276, [email protected].

American crows: dead or alive. We still want your observations of color-banded crows! If possible, please record the color and location (top/bottom left leg, top/bottom right leg) of bands. In addition, as part of our West Nile virus monitoring efforts in the Puget Sound area, we would like to know about any dead crows you observe. If they appear freshly dead, your county health agency may also want to test them for the virus. Report to: John Withey, [email protected], phone: 206-543-2764.

Cooper's hawks: Color bands have been placed on over 700 nestling Cooper's hawks in Victoria, British Columbia since 1996. This is part of a long-term study on its urban-nesting ecology. Each color band is uniquely coded with two vertical, alphanumeric characters and is placed on the left leg; black bands are on males, red bands on females. Please note band code and color, date, time, and location. Four birds have been reported from Washington, to date. Report all sightings to Andy Stewart, BC Conservation Data Centre, Victoria, B.C. (250) 387-9780, or e-mail to: [email protected].

Merlins: Detailed year-round observations are needed for scientific research on the merlin in Washington. Sightings should include exact location/map, date/time, description of bird(s) and behavior. Send to David Drummond, Coastal Forest Merlin Project, P.O. Box 4123, Bellingham, WA 98227, (360) 671-3804 or e-mail to: [email protected].

Northern harrier: Patagial markers have been placed on northern harriers as part of a long-term study of populations on Whidbey Island and in the Kent Valley. Please note the color of the tag (yellow, blue, green, or white), which wing it is on, the letter or number printed (in black) on the tag, and if there is a black circle around the letter or number. Note date, time, and exact location. Report to Jack Bettesworth, 2569 12th Ave W, Seattle WA 98119, (206) 285-5276. [email protected].

Ring-billed Gulls: A small percentage of ring-billed gulls in the Pacific Northwest show a pink tint. I would like observations of such individuals, especially any records prior to 1998. Date, location, number of pink birds, and the percentage of pink birds in the flock are needed. Details on age, plumage, and diet items will be appreciated. Lisa Hardy, 2153 B Old River Road, Kingston ID 83839, or [email protected]

Songbird survey: We have colormarked ~500 crows as well as many other songbirds in the area and would appreciate any sightings of these. Be on the lookout for banded robins, Wilson's warblers, Swainson's thrushes, song sparrows, spotted towhees, Oregon juncos, winter and Bewick’s wrens, and Pacific-slope flycatchers. If possible please record the color and location (top/bottom left leg, top/bottom right leg) of bands. Please report any sightings to Dr. John Marzluff, [email protected].

Turkey vultures: The Olympic Vulture Study would like observations of fall migrating turkey vultures from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Date, location, and number of birds is needed. If possible, report weather, time, and any aspect of behavior to: Diann MacRae, 22622 – 53rd Avenue S.E., Bothell WA 98021, or to: [email protected].

Trumpeter Swans: The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' Wildlife Management Program requests information on marked migrant and wintering trumpeter swan observations. Swans are marked with red neck collars and red legbands with T00-T99 codes. Please report date, location, number of birds, and contact information to Dale Becker, CSKT Wildlife Management Program, POB 278, Pablo, MT. 59855 or daleb@cskt,org or (406)883-2888.

Report Your Sightings

SASKATCHEWAN VULTURES: Information needed on Turkey Vulture sightings – Green herculite patagial tags were applied to the right wing of fourteen nestling Turkey Vultures in central Saskatchewan in August. White numbers are readily visible with binoculars. Sightings of tag numbers can be reported to the banding office, and sightings of a tag, too high to read the number, can be reported to Stu Houston: [email protected], Phone 306-244-0742. Reprinted from the December 2003 Ornithological Newsletter

The Washington Ornithological Society was chartered in 1988 to increase knowledge of the birds of Washington and to enhance communication among all persons interested in those birds. WOS is a non-profit organization under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code.

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The Washington Ornithological Society is the premier organization for Washington's active birders.

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WOSNews 91 June / July 2004

Table of Contents

Othello Crane Festival Report 1

WOS Elections 2

Site Guide: Sammamish River Trail 4

Classes 5

Washington Field Notes 8/2003 8

Report Your Sightings 15

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Othello Sandhill Crane Festival by Randy Hill and Bob Flores · WOSNews 91: June / July 2004 1...

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